In a move that qualifies as a shocker, Conan O’Brien has made a deal to return to television in a new late-night show on cable — not network — television.

The former “Tonight Show” host has agreed to start a new show on TBS, the comedy-oriented cable channel in the Turner network lineup. The show will start in November and play at 11 p.m. weeknights, teamed with that network’s other late-night show, hosted by George Lopez. That show, now at 11, will slide to midnight. …

TBS also promised “the biggest promotional campaign in television history” for Mr. O’Brien, using some of TBS’s most popular properties like the NBA playoffs this spring and the Major League Baseball playoffs next fall.

Oh no. Remember the non-stop ‘Frank TV’ promos during the MLB playoffs a couple years back?

and now the ugly:

Now Mr. O’Brien will be face to face with the two big stars of late-night in cable, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central.